Ribbon mechanism for type-printing machines.



A. B. DICK.

manna MECHANISM FOB TYPE PRINTING 1150mm.

APPLICATION FILED ILL! 190?. 7

Patented Sept. 22, 1908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

M rm Iii INVENTOfl WITNESSES imm4 A. B. DICK. RIBBON MECHANISM FOR TYPE PRINTING MACHKHES.

APPLIGATIOH FILED EAR. 1, 1907. 899,160.

A. B. DICK.

RIBBON MECHANISM FOR TYPE PRINTING MACHINES.

Arrmm'non rluzn ma. 1, 1901.

Patented Sept. 22, 1908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W W H WM am I A W m WITNESSES UNITED STA'llES ENT OFFICE.

ALBERT B. DICK, OF LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO A. B. DICK COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

RIBBON MECHANISM FOR TYPE-PRINTING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 22, 1908.

Application filed larch 1, 1807. Serial No. 860,086.

To all whom it may concern:

its direction of travel will be reversed, its

Be it known that I, ALBERT B. DICE, a i movement thereafter being in the reverse dicitizen of the United States, rcsidmg at for Typerinting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

useful Improvement in Ribbon Mechanism The invention relates more particularlv to T 0 l employed an ink-rib am le. as a form of t;

that class of printin machines in whic is Q n travelinfi in proxleeted or the purpose of this disclosure is imitv to the printing device, suc for exetc-. and which 1 rib u is automatically shifted at the end of its travel so that the feeding thereof relai t-iuely to the printing device, preferably re 5 side elevation looking in the direction mdi- The invention althou b ca ab e of use other connections and or at er purposes is particularly designed, and will herein be described in the form ada ted, for use with a tinting apparatus of tie type disclosed in tters Patent No. 831,042 granted to me September 18. 1906, and winch includes a suit-able frame having mounted to reciprocate therein a. carriage supporting a typeform, the type bein arranged therein with their printing faces ownward. Mounted on a frame below the reciprocating carriage is a pressure-roller and between such pressureroller and the type faces operates an ink-rib bon. The sheets to be imprinted upon are fed successivelfi between the pressure-roller and the ink-rib on extending over the type faces and are im tinted upon by said type faces and ink-rib on when pressed into contact therewith by the pressure-roller.

In the present invention the type-form supporting carriage is provided with means for supporting ri bon spools on either side of the type-form and said ribbon and the feeding and reversing mechanism which coact therewith are so constmcted and errsngpd that for each (operative) movement of t. e carriage (and therefore of the 1; form) there will be a corresponding sh t of the ink-ribbon, always in the same direction, until such ribbon has been fed almost at its entire length, whereupon, automatically,

Lake rection, with the result that regardless of the Forest, in the county of Lake and State of l length of Illinois, have invented a certain new and 3 travel thesame Wlll be automatically shifted the ribbon and of its direction of so as to present a fresh surface thereof for coaction with the type, each time the typeform assumes operative position to imprint upon a sheet.

The referred form of the invention seillustmted in the drawings in which Figure l is a top plan view of a rinting machine embodying my invention; 2 is atransrerse section thereof; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a cated by lines and arrows 4, 4, Fig. 1;Fig.

5 is a section taken on the line 5--5 Fig. 1;

Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively a plan view and central longitudinal section of a. portion of the ink-ribbon illustrated in the other figures.

Referring to these drawings, A designates a suitable base, upon which is mounted the supporting frame which includes the side members A A. This support-in frame as described in detail in the patent a re mentioned has, suitably mounted therein, a pressure-roller, means for throw the same to o retire or inoperative osit-ions and in dition, if desired, sheetceding mechanism such for example as the rolls a, a between which the impression sheeta is passed.

The apparatus, as thus far specifically referred to, forming no part of the present invention, but having as above indicated been previously disclosed, need not. be described In emu.

Mounted to re iprocate over the supporting frame inst described is the carriage, best shown in igs. I and 2, which includes the frame B, having supported therein the t peform B carrying type b, their printing aces downward, and over such type extends an elastic pad (1 and a pressure plate I). As will be seen (Fig. 1) the type are set up in lines extending in the direction in which the carriage is reclprocated and below the faces of site type 0 rates (see Fig.2) the ink-ribbon C, suppor ed u on the cart-in. e or an a purtemince thereo so that, in t is embo iment of the invention, the whole of said ribbon will move with the carriage and therefore with the type-form.

Extendin outwardly on either side of the carriage an either secured to or formed integral with the frame B thereof, are the brackets D, E the former including the side member if and cross members d", d and the latter including the side member e and the cross members a, a.

The ribbon supporting, feeding and leversmechanism at one side of the carriage IS r s i ibstantially the some as that of the other and therefore but one side need be described in detail, after which such differences as exist may be pointed out very briefly.

The ink-ribbon C is mounted upon suitable spools C, and in the operation of the device now to be described one of these spools is driven when the ribbon is fed in one direction, the other spool being driven when the To accomplish this there is a feedin and reversing device adjacent to one end if each of the spools and extending between these 1s a connecting shaftthe purpose and operation f of which will presently ap ar.

Each of the side mem rs A, A of the supporting frame, over which the reciprocatmg carriage travels. is provided with a stop A l v in the path of movement of a sector arm F, 'e ed to a stub'shaftfjournaled in a bearing-b ockf'carried by the side member d of the bracket D. Keyed to the opposite end of said stub-shaft f is a sector gear j -which meshes with a rorrespondin bevel arf keyed to a sleeve mounts upon a aff; f one end \vhereo is journaled m the bearing-block f, the other end, rovided with milled nut, j", being journa ed 111 a sleeve j carried b the cross-member d of bracket D. Said s eevef operates within a bearing 1', here shown as integral with crossmember (F of the frame and extending around the exterior of said heating and around an annular extension of the gear f and secured at its ends to each of these, is a coil-springj" exerting tension upon said erg; to restore the latter, and sectorear}: a er coaction of the arm F and stop K.

G designates a clutch, one member 9 whereof is here shown as formed integral with one of the disks or heads 0 of the s 001 C, the other member 9 having tubular orm and the coacting edges of both being rovided with serrations. The inner end 0 the sleet a f is provided with a bushing having an opening therein which coacts with the end of a screw g, pass through the tubular member 9 o ment of that member longitudinally. As clearly shown in Fig. 5, said tubular member is of greater diameter than the bearing f and between these is arra ed a coil-spring exerting pressure upon t e tubular memer to kee the same in engagement with the disk mom 1' g of the'clutch. Said tubular member is also provided with a circumfereneee, 160

tial flange 9 and with this coacts a lever g pivoted at 9 upon the side member d of the )racket D, its opposite end being connected by means of an arm g with a lever g secured eccentrically to the cross-connecting rockshaf t 5 As will be seen, the movement of the rockshaft g'" causes a corresponding movement of the lever g which'thereby controls the engagement between the members 9 g of the clutch G. Ordinarily (by reason of spring g) the said members are in engagement, so that the movement of the lever g" is against the tension of said spring when throwing said clutch members out of engagement. On every forward movement of the carriage the sector-arm F is brought into contact with the stop A, and the sector-gearj' thereby operdirection of travel of the ribbon is reversed.

ated to transmit movement to gear f, sleeve j" and tubular member 9' of the clutch G. Obviously whether this movement will cause a corres ending movement of the disk member 9 of t e clutch and therefore of the ribbon-spool, depends upon the enga ement or disengagement of the members 9, g of the clutch an this is controlled in the following manner. The sectorear is provided with a crank-arm H pivot to said sectorear at h. This crank-arm is provided at its ree end with a lug h and intermediate of its ends with an elongated slot h. Operating within said slot is a pin h carried by the upper end of an arm h keyed or otherwise secured upon the rock-shaft g'. The free end of the pin it is provided with an enlarged head if. The pin it and slot hare of such size that the former will work freely in the.-

latter.

As will presentlybe seen, the throwin out of the clutch G is effected by means of the crank-arm H, through the movement of the rock-shaft 9' above referred to and this movement is controlled by the ink-ribbon, as presently described. For present purposes it is to be understood that the movement of said crank-arm is such that ordinarily the lug h at the free end thereof is not brought into coaction with the head h and therefore no movement of the rock-shaft results. When, however, the block I, at the end of upwardly extending arm 'i, (which block normally lies out of the path of movement of the lug h) is, through the travel of the ink-ribbon, permitted to interpose itself between said lug h and the head It, the

; movement (to the right, Fig. 3) of the lug h the clutc to linut the movei brings it into contact with said block I forcing said block I into contact with the lug h and thereby, through the instrument-slit of the arm h, rocking the shaft g and operating the clutch controlling lever g". The arm '5 is mounted upon a collar i secured to the end of a shaft L, journaled in the cross-members d, d of the bracket I). Said shaft li lies in a plane parallel with the axis of the ribbon-spool U, and as shown in Fig. 3, below the some. Secured to shaft L is a bail coinprisin the collars l, keyed to said shaft, two arms secured to and upwardly extending from said collars, the upper ends of said arms being connected by a rod or bar 1* constituting a follower for the core of the mkribbon. A tension device, here shown in the form of coil-springs l, exerts tension upon the said bail, forcing bar 1 into coaction with said core. The shaft L is provided with an idler-sleeve L for coaction with the ribbon as hereinafter. explained.

M designates an idler-roll mounted on the upper ends of the arms m, the lower ends of said arms being mounted upon stub-shafts m around which are coiled springs in, placing the idler-roll M iuider tension in the same direction as the follower just described. The ribbon from the spool shown at the left in Fig. 2 passes partially around the idlerroll .\-1, thence partially around the sleeve L' on shaft L. thence under the type-form and to the corresponding instrumentalities at the other side of the carriage.

The ink-ribbon isshown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7. In its preferred form each end thereof is secured between the parallel faces of the metallic clamp X of such size as to snugly fit within a slot n in one of the spools C. Secured to said ribbon at a suitable point adjacent to each end of said ribbon is a thickened portion n which may be formed in any suitable manner, as, for example, by securing together a. number of folds of the ribbon or by attaching thereto a portion of substantially thicker material, by means of stitchinior an adhesive. The purposes of -this thic ened portion will now be ex lained The follower l is, as above statet maintained throughits tension device in close engagement with the ribbon u on each of the s is. Whemthereforemedbstantial qluantity of the ribbon is wound upon one spoo the ad acent follower l is removed a substantial distance from the spool and as a result the block I is removed a corresponding distance from the path of movement of the lugh. As the feeding of the ribbon continues and as the diameter of the combined spool and ribbon decreases, the follower is rmitted to move closer to the spool and sai block I controlled thereby. .is also permitted to move closer to the path of movement of the lug h. Final l v it is brought to a point almost within the path of movement of said lug. At this moment the thickened portion of the ribbon is fed from the spool, the follower being in contact therewith, and as said follower passes out of engagement with said thickened portion the s aft L, theretofore moved by almost im rceptible stages. is permitted to rock so ciently to carry the block I, at one decisive step, into the path of movement of the ltig it, this having the effect of increasing the stroke of said lug which thereupon. throu h the arm it, rocks shaft g'". The result of t e rocking of the shaft as above indicated, is to throw out the clutch at one side of the machine and to throw in the clutch at the other side of the machine, whereupon the direction of travel of the ribbon is reversed.

The slight differences heretofore alluded to between the ribbon supporting. feeding and reversing instrumentabties on either side of the carriage result merel from the fact that these naturally face in opposite directions instead of in the some direction. Due to this the link or lover ll on one side of the machine is pivoted to the scctor-gear-f on that side near one edge of said gear (Fig. 3) and at the other side of the machine near the opposite edge (Fig. 4) of said gear. Also as w I be seen, the connection between the rock-shaft g" and clutch-operating lever g on one side of the machine is exactly reversed (so far as concerns the effect of the movement of said shaft) at the other, with the result that as the tubular clutch nielnberg on one side of the machine is thrown into engagement with its coacting clutch member the tubular clutch member at the other side of the machine is thrown out of engagementwith its reacting clutch member. The feeding of the ribbon step by step in correspondence with the reciprocating movement of the carriage results from the movement of the sector-gear adjacent to the (operative) clutch and the movement of this is in turn controlled bv the coaction of the adjacent sector-arm I and stop A. The corresponding instrumentalities at the other side of the machine operate in the same manner, on the reciprocation of the carri e, save that the clutch members at that sit e of the machine being out of operative relation, no movement is transmitted to the 5 00!. As a result the ribbon is drawn freely rorn the spool at that side and positively taken up by the spool at the o posite side where the members of the clutci are in engagement.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. The combination of a movable carriage, a printing device supported thereby, spools mounted on said carriage and a ribbon carried thereby, feedi mechanism for said ribbon, reversing ruec anism for the ribbon, a. movable member held vieldinglv in engagement with the ribbon on one of said 5 mole, and means controlled by the position 0 said member for 0 rating said reversing mechanism, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a movable carriage, a printing device supported thereby, spools mounted on said carnage and a ribbon carried thereby, said ribbon having a thickened portion thereon ad'acent to one end. feeding mechanism for sir-it ribbon, reversing mechanism for the ribbon, amovable member held yieldiugly in engagement with the ribbon on one of said spools, and means con trolled by the position of said member for operating said reversing mechanism, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a movable carriage, a printing device supporter-l thereby, spools mounted on the carriage and a. ribbon carried thereby, a clutch for each of said spools, a rock-shaft, connections between said shaft and said clutches to simultaneously throw one clutch to operative position and the other to inoperative position, a movable member held yieldingly in engagement, with the ribbon on one of said s ale, and means controlled by the position 0 said member for operating said rock-shaft, substantially as setforth.

4. The combination of a movable carriage, a printing device supported thereby, spools mounted on the carriage and a ribbon carried thereby, devices for feeding the ribbon in the direction of its length, a part movable in correspondence with themovernent of the carriage, a member held yielthnglv 1n engagement with the ribbon on one of said spools,

and means controlled by the coaction of said 2 part with said member for reversim the direction of feeding movement of said ribbon, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a movable carriage, a printing device supported thereby, spools mounted on the carriage and a ribbon carried therebv, ribbon-feeding mechanism. ribbonreversing mechanism, a part movable in correspondence with the movement of the carriage, a member held yieldinglv 1n engagement with the ribbon on one of said s ols, and means dependent upon the position of said member for causing said part to actuate said ribbon-reversing mechanism, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a movable carriage, a Iprinting device supported thereby, an inkri bon, spools on w ic-h the ends of the ribbon are wound, said ribbon havi an operating device thereon adjacent to eac end, ribbon-feeding mechanism, means actuated by the movement of the carriage for o crating said ribbon-feeding mechanism, an means actuated by said operati devices upon the ribbon for reversing the direction of feed of the ribbon, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a movable carriage, a printing device supported thereby, spools mounted on the carriage, a ribbon carried by said spools and having a thickened ortion therein adjacent to each end. ribbon ceding mechanism, means actuated by the movement of the carriage for operating said feeding mechanism, and means actuated by said thickened portions of the ribbon for reversing the direction of feed of the ribbon, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a movable carriage, a tinting device sup-[ported thereby, an inkri bun, spools on w oh the ends of the ribbon are wound, said ribbon having an operating device thereon adjacent to each end, a ribbon-feeding device coacting with each of said spools, moans actuated by the movement of the carriage for operating one or the other of said devices, a connection between said feeding devices, and means actuated by said operating devices upon the ribbon for automatically throwing one of said ribbonleeding devices into operative relation to its spool and the other of said devices into inoperative relation to its spool, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of a movable carriage, a printing device supported thereby, spools mounted on the carnage, a ribbon carried by said spools and having a thickened ortion therein adjacent to each end, ribbon eedin mechanism, including a clutch for each 0 said spools and a connection between the clutches, means actuated by the movement of the carriage for operating said mechanism to feed one or the other oi said spools, and means actuated by said thickened portions in the ribbon for simultaneously operating said clutches to connect said opera-tin means for ficldingly against the rib on on one of said spools, and means controlled by said member for reversing the direction of feed of the ribbon. substantiallv as set forth.

11. The combination with a movable carriage and a printing device supported thereby, of an ink-ribbon mounted upon spools supported by said carriage, feeding mechanism lor said spools, reversing mechanism for said in k-ribbon', and means for actuatirv said reversing mechanism. said means including a follower reacting with said ink-ribbon, substantiallv as set forth.

!2. T e combination with a movable carriage and a rinting device supported thereby, of an in -ribbon spools for feeding and taking up said ink-ribbon, and feeding mechanism for said spools, said mechanism including clutches a connection between the same for simultaneously throwin one clutch to uperative position and the ot or to inoperative position, and a device held yieldingly a ainst said ribbon controlling the o oration 0 said clutches, substantially as set orth.

13. The confirmation with av movable carriage and a. printing device supported thereby, of an ink-ribbon and spools supported by see, 160

said carriage for feeding and taking u said ribbon, a, clutch adjacent to each 0 said spools and determining its operation, a rocka aft, and connections between the ends thereof and said clutches to simultaneously throw one of said clutches to operative ROSI- tion and the other to inoperative position, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination with a movable carriage and a printing device supported thereby, of an ink-ribbon and a spool coactlng therewith, said ribbon having an operating device thereon adj acent to one end, a follower coactin with said ribbon as the same is wound om said spool, and means controlled by saidfollower for determining the operativencss of said spool, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination with a movablecarrings and a printing device supported thereby, of an ink-ribbon, and reversing means therefor eompris' clutches, a rock-shaft connected with said clutches to simultaneously throw one to operative position and the other-to ino erative position, a reciprocal:- ing lug operated by the movementof said carriegc, a follower enacting with said ink-ribbon, and means controlled by said follower for causingsa id lug to operate said rock-shaft, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination with a movable cn-rriage and a. printing device supported therebly, of an ink-ribbon, and reversing means t'ierefor comprising clutches, a. rock-shaft connected with said clutches to simultaneonsl throw one to operative position and the ot Ier to inoperative position, a reciprocating lug o erated by the movement of said carriage, a ollower eoact' with said inkribbon, and a block contro ed by said follower and movable, as said follower eppronches the core of said spool, into the path of movement of said lug to effect the movement of said rock-shaft and thereby effect the reversal of the direction of travel of said ribbon, substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 13th day of February, 1907.

ALBERT B. DICK.

W'itnesses:

S. 0. Ennoxns, D. S. Emloxns. 

